Sending a follow up letter after a job interview shows professional courtesy - a task that many job candidates tend to forget.

In a follow up letter, you show your appreciation for meeting with the employer and add any details discussed during your interview that you want to elaborate on. It is considered to be good business etiquette and lets the employer know how strongly you want the position. You can send it through e-mail or postmark, and forward it directly to the manager you had met with.


Take advantage of writing a follow up letter as you will leave a lasting impression.

The Benefits:

• You have a chance to still make yourself shine after the interview. Most likely, the other job candidates who are also interviewing for the same position may forget to send a thank you letter.
• You can recap on certain subjects discussed in the interview and further emphasize why are the right fit for the position.
• If there was anything you may have forgotten to mention in the interview, this is your opportunity. You can stress on specific accomplishments or tasks you performed that are useful to the duties of the position. For example, if you were interviewed for a writing position and forgot to mention that you started the first company newsletter at your last job, you can accentuate on how that has continued throughout your employment and is still being used within that company.

Important Tips:

• If you were interviewed by more than one manager, send ALL of them each a follow up letter. They can all receive the same format, but if you discussed different topics with each of one, then it is best to re-word for that manager specifically.
• Send your letter within 24 hours of the meeting time of your interview. But if you can, it is best to send the letter on the same day.

Here is a template for a follow up "Thank You" letter:

Date

Dear Manager's Name,

First Paragraph: Start by thanking the direct manager you met with for taking their time to speak with you, and express your excitement if given the job.

Body Paragraph: Reiterate on certain points discussed during the interview, and describe why you are the perfect candidate. Talk about the duties, projects, and anything else mentioned during your interview that highly interested you. Elaborate further on topics that were brought up. But don't repeat statements from your cover letter. This can be 3-5 sentences.

Second Body Paragraph (Optional): You can explain more in detail here, if you choose to. Discuss what else you can bring to the job and other information you may have forgotten to mention during the interview.

Final Paragraph: Conclude by restating your appreciation for the employer's time and consideration and that you look forward to their hiring decision.

Sincerely,


Your Name

This is an example of someone who is applying for an internship at a nonprofit organization:

January 30, 2009


Dear Mr. Ford,

I would like to thank you for meeting with me today to discuss the role of the marketing intern. I greatly enjoyed our interview and getting to know more about your organization, and I would be thrilled to take on the responsibilities of the position if given the opportunity.

I was particularly impressed by the upcoming events that were presented to me as immediate job duties I would help prepare. They seemed very humanitarian and made me realize more that this is the kind of environment I want to pursue a career in. It is without a doubt that your organization has been so successful while maintaining a reputation for superb, charitable work. I am confident that my marketing knowledge will be of great use for this internship, and I will take on the opportunity as a significant learning experience.

Thank you again for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing your final hiring decision.

Sincerely,


John Smith

You can also choose to mail your letter.
Click here for a sample follow up letter via postmark.

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